Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,22
he had dropped off Avian. Shouts were coming from inside the room and he hung back, waiting. The yelling was growing progressively louder when it suddenly stopped and the door flew open. In the moment between her emergence and her realization that he was standing there, Mathieu saw the hurt and the tears that were moments from spilling over. Avian’s mask of composer came back up after a split second.
Without a word, she stomped up to her room, slamming every door she went through. A few of them ended up in his face. As soon as Avian got to her room, she curled up in bed. The blanket was pulled over her head and she was shaking softly.
Mathieu was fighting a very serious war within himself. He hardly knew this young woman. Should he try to comfort and help her, or was that too intimate? She didn’t seem like the type of person to ask someone to hold her, to soothe her. Would it hurt her pride?
He settled for something mild; Mathieu slowly approached the bed, leaned down and touched her shoulder softly. She stilled. “I’m sorry.” He murmured. With that, he stood and went into the room that had been designated as his.
The room was nice, if a single sized bed covered in a puffy comforter, and a large, overstuffed pillow. The dresser was impersonal. It had translucent, already full of clothes, and the vanity was clearly meant for a woman. It had a round mirror and a stool. A bathroom was attached to the bedroom and it followed the simple theme.
Mathieu went back into the bathroom and found also that his bag had been set in a corner. The clothes were gone from it and the book was set on his bedside table. He set the pocket watch beside it. The money and his other few belongings were still in the confines of the bag.
Going to the dresser, Mathieu pulled open a drawer and held up a shirt that must be new, seeing as he didn’t bring it with him. It would fit perfectly. Narrie must have used my other clothes to get my measurements… Refolding the shirt and tucking it away, he kicked off his shoes, stripped to his boxers, then curled up in the bed. It was warmer here than the orphanage had been. He rather liked it.
~*~
Hours had passed, but still he couldn’t fall asleep. Rolling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling, wondering if Avian was alright. Silly. I’m sure she’s fine. It took a few moments for him to realize that he could hardly see. His vision at night had always been rather amazing, able to see by just the stars when no moon was present. But this room was complete dark. He didn’t have a window. Sitting up, he set his feet onto the floor which was surprisingly warm. Everything about this place didn’t make sense and it made him feel off. But he would adapt. He’d desired a new life, and he’d gotten it.
Using his fingertips, he found the wall and went to the door, pulling it open. He peeked around the doorframe and saw, with the dim light coming in through Avian’s window that she was asleep, if the deep, steady breathing was any indication. As quietly as he could, Mathieu went to the window and looked down at the view. She had a lovely view of the gardens. Even at night, they were lit up.
He wanted to get a closer look at them; Narrie had said something of gardens earlier, but with whatever had occurred at dinner, he hadn’t gotten to see them yet. The moons were different here: brighter somehow. Just like the castle, it was beautiful. Everything was so visually appealing here…
Ateri was spectacular; it was as vibrant as they said. Technology was more advanced here than it had been in the few towns he’d been to. Of course, those had been outer towns, not cities liked this. Technology had come a long way. Transportation that were controlled by a telepathic connection were common place. Hologram transmitting crystals were used for communication. Everything was so fancy and high tech.
“They’re pretty, aren’t they?” Avian stood beside him, her eyes only half open. “The flowers I mean. They were Narrie’s idea.”
“You should be sleeping.” He gave her a sideways look.
She shook her head, putting her hand on the window frame. “Can’t sleep. Stay up and talk with me for a bit?”